File 4535/1928 Pt 8 ‘ – PERSIAN GULF – QUESTION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTORATES OVER KOWEIT, BAHREIN, MUSCAT, TRUCIAL COAST.’ [‎88v] (170/194)

British sovereignty over “ a portion of Turkish territory. The Ottoman Minister
was informed that the British Government could not recognise the LurKish claim to
the sovereignty of Bahrein. n ^
44. In 1892 the question came under consideration again m consequence ot
certain taxes, recoverable from Ottoman subjects only, having been levied at Basra ^
upon natives of Bahrein, and a demand for a refund was preferred by the British
Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , who contended that Bahrein and its inhabitants were
under British protection. On this occasion the Turkish Government addressed the
British Embassy at Constantinople and denied the title of natives of Bahrein to
British protection; but the reply, given under the instructions of Her Majesty s
Government, was to the effect that, as Bahrein was now under the protection of Her
Majesty the Queen of England, no interference by the Ottoman authorities with the
natives of Bahrein could be admitted. A year later, in April 189o, ivoal
Government again protested against the assumption by the British
Agent at Basra of a title to protect natives of Bahrein; and once more Her Majest} s
Government maintained the right of their 'diplomatic and consular representatives
in the Ottoman Empire to extend their good offices to the class of persons m question.
45. In 1880 interest in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was being shown by foreign 1 owers.
French. American and Japanese vessels had visited its waters.
In the circumstances-, believing that Bahrein, as one of the chief commercial
centres, would soon become an object of this attention, the Resident, finding the
sheikh disposed to conclude a special arrangement with the British Government took
the opportunity to obtain his signature to an agreement which was appro\ ed b\ re
British Government in 1881. . . . ,
46. It bound the sheikh to abstain from entering into negotiations with or
making treaties with other Governments, except with the sanction of the British
Government, and he agreed to refuse permission to any other Government, other than
the British, to establish diplomatic or consular agencies or coaling depots m Bahrein
territory, except with the consent of the British Government. i
47. ’ In 1886 the Shah of Persia had verbally requested Mr. Nicjlolson to convey
to the British Government the fact that he considered the communication made to
him in 1869 as tantamount to an admission of his rights over Bahrein, and that he
was anxious to establish authority over the islands, either by sending a oyernor o
Bahrein or by recognising the sheikh as his representative, but that he wished the
maritime police to remain in the hands of the British naval authorities An answer
was prepared, but not delivered, as the Shah did not revert to the subjeck It was
to the effect that Her Majesty’s Government did not concur m His Majesty the Shah s
interpretation of the communication of 1869; on the contrary, they considere
Bahrein to be independent. . , . . , c
48. In 1888 an intrigue by certain Persian officials with the Sheikh oi qjatai,
which place now had no connection with Bahrein, was supposed to contain danger to
the islands, and two warships were stationed at Bahrein with instructions to pre\en r
by force if necessary, any hostile attempt to land by the Turks, I ersians or Arabs.
h 49. In 1892 a document similar to that of 1880 was signed by the Sheikh ot
i Bahrein, with an additional provision against the cession by the sheikh of territory
Vto foreign Governments. In this document the sheikh undertook on no account to
enter into any agreement or correspondence with any Power other than the British
Government, not to consent, except with the concurrence of the British Government,
to the residence within his territory of the agehl of any other Government. And on
no account to cede, sell, mortgage, or otherwise give for occupation, any part ot his
territory save to the British Government u r iw thp
50 The reign of Sheikh Isa was disturbed during a number of years by the
ambitious proiects of the Porte and the formation of a Turkish province upon he
adioining mainland of Hasa. Bahrein was, however, protected by the British
Government against the danger of annexation. „„ tonq tUp
51. At times, further claims by the Turks were made, a^dm January 1893 th
local Turkish Governor of Qatif proclaimed that Bahrein and Oman had reverted o
Ottoman iurisdiction and Turkish flags were forced on the owners of Bahrein
boats In August of the same year, in a formal notification by the same official, it
was stated that the British Government had no connection with Bahrein, which
was a part of the Turkish Empire and would in future be treated as such.
This notice was posted up in the bazaars. On representation the notice was
withdrawn, but the Turkish Government refused the right of the British authorities
to protect Bahrein subjects at Basra or on Turkish sou.